Prosecutor seeks 7-year prison term for scholar Mubashshir Ahmad despite lack of proven charges

At the fourth hearing on 18 September at the Uchtepa District Criminal Court, Deputy Prosecutor Erkin Narzullaev called on the court to convict the scholar under three articles of the Criminal Code and to sentence him to “a final term of seven years in prison,” along with a fine equal to 150 times the base calculation unit.

The demand shocked many among the hundreds of citizens who attended the open trial, which lasted nearly three hours. Observers noted that no accusation brought against Mubashshir Ahmad has been convincingly proven, yet the prosecution has pressed for the harshest punishment.

The case is being heard under Judge Bobur Rahimov, with Narzullaev representing the state and a defense team led by Abdulloh Sodiq. The defense argued that the accusations were either baseless or had lost their social danger. They urged the court to drop the charges of “distributing materials threatening public security” and “inciting national, racial, ethnic or religious hatred,” while acknowledging in part the allegation of distributing religious materials without prior authorization. Even in that instance, they stressed, the act had no real threat to society and should be dismissed under Article 70 of the Criminal Code.

The defense also asked for the return of confiscated equipment and materials, and emphasized the scholar’s health condition, his role as an educator for youth and the wider community, and his position as the sole breadwinner for his family. Mubashshir Ahmad himself supported his lawyers’ arguments in full.

Despite these considerations, the prosecutor has insisted on imprisonment – a move seen by many as unjust and disproportionate. The court is scheduled to give the defendant the final word on 22 September, after which a verdict will be delivered.

For reference, Mubashshir Ahmad is facing charges under three Criminal Code articles:

● Article 244-3 – Illegal preparation, possession, import, or distribution of religious materials;
● Article 244-1 – Preparation, possession, distribution, or display of materials threatening public security and public order;
● Article 156 – Incitement of national, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred.

While the court initially banned audio and video recording at the prosecution’s request, the hearings remain open to the public and media. Over the first three sessions, the indictment was read and testimony was heard from both experts and the defendant himself.